WiMAX

jwt

Long article but well worth the read

The first generation of WiMAX Forum Certified CPEs will be outdoor-installable subscriber stations akin to a satellite dish. These are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2005 and priced above $350. The second generation of CPEs will be indoor-installable modems similar to a cable or DSL modem, will be priced under $200 and are expected to be available in the Q3 2005 timeframe. No truck roll will be required with indoor-installable modems.

Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of WiMAX—one with the potential to make this a significantly bigger market—is the evolution to mobility. The WiMAX Forum is working aggressively to incorporate mobile capabilities into the 802.16 standard by the end of 2004.

In the 2007 timeframe, we expect that WiMAX will be incorporated into end-user devices like notebook computers and PDAs along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, enabling the delivery of wireless broadband directly to the end user—at home, in the office and on the move. In the 2007 timeframe, we expect to see WiMAX integrated into 3G phones along with Wi-Fi, providing a simplified network connection for voice and data. The WiMAX Forum is working to drive a common platform for harmonization between standards that will enable users to remain connected wherever they go.

WiMAX has the potential to be the great equalizer in broadband access. In short, bridging the gap of the digital divide has never been more within our reach.

Ireland is one of the countries that has begun redistributing its 3.5 GHz spectrum, taking it back from the big carriers and holding companies that let lie untouched for years and handing it out free to smaller companies with the only conditions being they actually have a wireless business plan and execute it. Leap Broadband's original plan was to deploy broadband wireless over the unlicensed 5.8 GHz frequencies, but when the government redistribution was announced, it immediately jumped on the opportunity. Licensed spectrum is always preferable to unlicensed, said Charlie Ardagh, director of Leap Broadband, but not always for the reasons you might think.

"We were having no trouble with the unlicensed bands," Ardagh said. "There's just a perception that licensed spectrum is more robust than unlicensed spectrum. The truth is they're equally robust." But the industry being in the nascent state that is, perceptions-especially those of your financial backers and your perspective customers--are important, and the ability to market a wireless service free from interference and crowding is key competitive tactic that Leap and other smaller players are taking full advantage of, Ardagh said.

Leap is just one of dozens of what are emerging as a new wave of smaller broadband wireless carriers in Europe, created out of the sudden availability of the 3.5 GHz bands and Europe's steep leased-line prices. While many of these carriers are still on small-scale deployments (Leap has only deployed in Dublin so far), the WiMAX specification finalization could trigger a boom for these small carriers, followed hopefully by deployments from the larger, more well-funded carriers currently sitting on their spectrum, said Alan Menezes, vice president of marketing for for Aperto Networks, the vendor and Forum member supplying Leap and other European carriers with 3.5 GHz gear.

A lighter read here

Neotec, a consortium of mobile operators in Brazil, wants to offer wireless broadband for about $20 per month and says it thinks it can do that by not laying wires. It has tested a proprietary system that uses licensed spectrum around 2.5 GHz and is looking to WiMax for the price-cutting power of standardization.

John

joc_06

Yes Wimax seems to be the future. the 802.16a rev being pushed by intel uses a 3 others but mainly a2048 point fft ofdm implementation. intel are due to go to silicone soon with their rosedale chipset which will be make or break for this standard imho

there is also an 802.20 standard being mooted but i know little enough of that.

I believe that wCDMA 3g is now officially a dead duck regardless what vodafone say. i think that vo802.16a will be the future. The idea of a MAN (metropolitian area network ) for 802.16 has the potential to fully replace the PSTN in the next few yrs

spongebob

I think that .16d or .16e are the 'Mobile' variants of 16. They will do almost everything that 3G will do except handover from cell to cell .

Comreg will do their best to be awkward about this technology for fear of being sued by the 3G licencees but if you have to turn it off and on to handshake with the new cell that will probably keep them happy enuff.

The ultimate and belated saviour of 3G will be when 2G gets turned off in 2012 or 2015 and the spectrum reallocated. Analogue mobile was to be turned off next year but is largely gone in the EU already as those of you with an old 088 fone will remember no doubt.

M

Mr_Man

In New York, city officials are negotiating to sell wireless carriers space on 18,000 lampposts for as much as $21.6 million annually. T-Mobile USA Inc., Nextel Partners Inc. (NXTP), IDT Corp. (IDT) and three other wireless carriers want the equipment to increase their networks' capacity.

One part of the 15-year deal is cheap Wi-Fi phones for neighborhoods where less than 95 percent of residents have home phones. IDT, which has agreed to market the cheaper phone service in those neighborhoods, would pay lower rates for poles there than other companies would in wealthier areas.

Wireless technology has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years and become drastically less expensive.

A similar approach by the councils in Ireland might yield some decent revenue for them, and help prmote an alternative to Eircom's infrastructure.

M.

jwt

WiMAX is going to be an interesting technology to watch in the coming years.


John

spongebob

It will be absolutely fhuck all good to anybody in the inept hands of a Regulator who has defined Universal "Functional Internet Access" at 0k .

Expect planetary grade muppetry in the licencing regime for Wimax, the article linked in the first post noted that the MMDS band was targeted for early deployment (around 2.5Ghz) so Comreg deliberately undeployed half of it FROM service in June 2004 and have essentially already allocated it to non existent 3G operators , lest it be the TINIEST bit useful to anybody like .

Do not understimate the incompetence of our Regulator ....ever at your peril !

M

joc_06

Muck wrote:

It will be absolutely fhuck all good to anybody in the inept hands of a Regulator who has defined Universal "Functional Internet Access" at 0k .

Expect planetary grade muppetry in the licencing regime for Wimax, the article linked in the first post noted that the MMDS band was targeted for early deployment (around 2.5Ghz) so Comreg deliberately undeployed half of it FROM service in June 2004 and have essentially already allocated it to non existent 3G operators , lest it be the TINIEST bit useful to anybody like .

Do not understimate the incompetence of our Regulator ....ever at your peril !

M

802.16a specifies 3 additional PHY layers which will allow wimax to operate at both unlicenced 2.4ghz but also the unlicenced ghz range above 11 so this may not be a big problem.

Ps while im here - does anyone know of any jobs going for a good telecommunications engineer??

OHP

Hmmm I just watched a demo of Wi-Max http://www.intel.com/netcomms/technologies/wimax/ under the heading 'Discover More' and it really looks impressive. But even better still. Word has it that Last Mile Wireless BB will be bringing it in in the near future. But I will beleive that when I see it. And get it if I can.

OHP

crawler

joc_06 wrote:

Ps while im here - does anyone know of any jobs going for a good telecommunications engineer??

Hi - I am always on the look out for good, skilled IP/Telecoms/VoIP engineers....PM me if you want to have a chat.

oscarBravo